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Alistair Cockburn Usecase
Alistair Cockburn Usecase
A. Cockburn
Document: TR.96.03a
This Version Date: October 26, 1998
Version: 2
Previous Version Date: April 26, 1996
Per popular request, I am putting forward a basic template for use cases matching the
document Structuring Use Cases with Goals, HaT.TR.95.1 (available at the same address and web site), and the course / tutorial of a similar name. This document is copyrighted by Humans and Technology as HaT technical report TR 96.03a, also found at
http://alistair.cockburn.us. You have permission to copy and distribute the documents as
long as you reference the source of the originals. You may use the templates in courses
and presentations with proper reference. You may use and vary the template on your
projects without reference. Do note that the template may evolve over time according to
your feedback. Additions to the text may appear in italics, like this (added, v.2).
The template has the sections: name (which is the goal), goal in context, scope, level,
trigger, pre- and postconditions, main course, extensions, sub-variations, and other characteristic data for the use case. You may easily graft more information on to the end, or
omit information. To help you decide when to omit information, I include a section on
Using, Staging, Tailoring the Template. The base template is given twice, once in
simple word-processing format and then again in table format so you can choose the one
that best suits your tool set. Personally, I find that people work best with the simple text
format. You will find that the collection of use cases is easier to work with in
something like Lotus Notes than in a word processor.
In this version of the template, I write Sub-Variation as an attempt to make it more distinct from Extensions. Refer to the original paper.
This document has the following parts:
l Template in plain text
l Template in table form
l Example in plain text
l Example in table form
l Using, Staging, Tailoring the Template
The Word binary of this document may be available on the web site.
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Use Case: <number> <the name should be the goal as a short active verb phrase>
-------------------------------------------------CHARACTERISTIC INFORMATION
Goal in Context: <a longer statement of the goal, if needed>
Scope: <what system is being considered black-box under design>
Level: <one of: Summary, Primary task, Subfunction>
Preconditions: <what we expect is already the state of the world>
Success End Condition: <the state of the world upon successful completion>
Failed End Condition: <the state of the world if goal abandoned>
Primary Actor: <a role name for the primary actor, or description>
Trigger: <the action upon the system that starts the use case, may be time event>
---------------------------------------MAIN SUCCESS SCENARIO
<put here the steps of the scenario from trigger to goal delivery, and any cleanup after>
<step #> <action description>
---------------------EXTENSIONS
<put here there extensions, one at a time, each refering to the step of the main scenario>
<step altered> <condition> : <action or sub.use case>
<step altered> <condition> : <action or sub.use case>
-------------------SUB-VARIATIONS
<put here the sub-variations that will cause eventual bifurcation in the scenario>
<step or variation # > <list of sub-variations>
<step or variation # > <list of sub-variations>
---------------------RELATED INFORMATION (optional)
Priority: <how critical to your system / organization>
Performance Target: <the amount of time this use case should take>
Frequency: <how often it is expected to happen>
Superordinate Use Case: <optional, name of use case that includes this one>
Subordinate Use Cases: <optional, depending on tools, links to sub.use cases>
Channel to primary actor: <e.g. interactive, static files, database>
Secondary Actors: <list of other systems needed to accomplish use case>
Channel to Secondary Actors: <e.g. interactive, static, file, database, timeout>
---------------------------OPEN ISSUES (optional)
<list of issues about this use cases awaiting decisions>
--------------------------SCHEDULE
Due Date: <date or release of deployment>
...any other schedule / staffing information you need...
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Table format:
< the name is the goal as a short active verb phrase>
<a longer statement
of the goal in context
if needed>
<what system is being considered black box under design>
Scope & Level
<one of : Summary, Primary Task, Subfunction>
<what we expect is already the state of the world>
Preconditions
Success End Con- <the state of the world upon successful completion>
dition
Failed End Condi- <the state of the world if goal abandoned>
tion
<a role name or description for the primary actor>.
Primary,
Secondary Actors <other systems relied upon to accomplish use case>
<the action upon the system that starts the use case>
Trigger
DESCRIPTION Step Action
1
<put here the steps of the scenario
from trigger to goal delivery,and any cleanup afte>
2
<...>
3
EXTENSIONS
Step Branching Action
1a
<condition causing branching> :
<action or name of sub.use case>
SUB-VARIBranching Action
ATIONS
1
<list of variation s>
USE CASE #
Goal in Context
RELATED INFORMATION
Priority:
Performance
Frequency
Channels to actors
OPEN ISSUES
Due Date
...any other
management
information...
Superordinates
Subordinates
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Sample:
Use Case: 5
Buy Goods
-------------------------------------------------CHARACTERISTIC INFORMATION
Goal in Context: Buyer issues request directly to our company, expects goods shipped
and to be billed.
Scope: Company
Level: Summary
Preconditions: We know Buyer, their address, etc.
Success End Condition: Buyer has goods, we have money for the goods.
Failed End Condition: We have not sent the goods, Buyer has not spent the money.
Primary Actor: Buyer, any agent (or computer) acting for the customer
Trigger: purchase request comes in.
---------------------------------------MAIN SUCCESS SCENARIO
1. Buyer calls in with a purchase request.
2. Company captures buyers name, address, requested goods, etc.
3. Company gives buyer information on goods, prices, delivery dates, etc.
4. Buyer signs for order.
5. Company creates order, ships order to buyer.
6. Company ships invoice to buyer.
7. Buyers pays invoice.
---------------------EXTENSIONS
3a. Company is out of one of the ordered items:
3a1. Renegotiate order.
4a. Buyer pays directly with credit card:
4a1. Take payment by credit card (use case 44)
7a. Buyer returns goods:
7a. Handle returned goods (use case 105)
-------------------SUB-VARIATIONS
1. Buyer may use
phone in,
fax in,
use web order form,
electronic interchange
7. Buyer may pay by
cash or money order
check
credit card
---------------------RELATED INFORMATION
Priority: top
Performance Target: 5 minutes for order, 45 days until paid
Frequency: 200/day
Superordinate Use Case: Manage customer relationship (use case 2)
Subordinate Use Cases:
Create order (use case 15)
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RELATED INFORMATION
Priority:
Performance
Frequency
Channel to actors
OPEN ISSUES
Due Date
...any other
management
information...
Superordinates
Subordinates
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5. Buy Goods
top
5 minutes for order, 45 days until paid
200/day
not yet determined
What if we have part of the order?
What is credit card is stolen?
release 1.0
A. Cockburn
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